Brick molds



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. 0., S. & A. H. NEWTON.

MACHINE FOR SANDING BRICK MOLDS. No. 372,698. Patented Nov. 8, 1887.

(No Model 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. 0., S. & A. H. NEWTON.

MACHINE FOR SANDING BRICK MOLDS.

No. 372,698. Patented Nov. 8 1887.

(No Model.)

I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. A. 0., S. & A. H. NEWTON.

MACHINE FOR SANDING BRICK MOLDS. No. 372,698. Patented Nov. 8, 87.

N Pnzns. Pmm-mm n w, Washinglcn. D. c.

Unit-ten stares Arnnr @rrtcn ANDREWV G. NEWTON AND SYLVESTER NElVTON, OF CRESCENT, AND ALBERT H. NEWTON, OF COHOES, NEW YORK.

MAClllNE FCR SANDING BRICK MOLDS.

SPECIFICATION forming narc of Letters Patent No. 872,698, dated November 8, 1887.

Serial No. 239,835. (No model.)

To all who/'72,, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, Annnnw C. NEWTON and SYLvns'rnR Nnw'ror, of Crescent, and ALBERT H. NEWTOX, of Oohoes, in the connties of Saratoga and Albany, respectively, State of New York, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding and Delivering Mechanism for Hold-Sanding M- chines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to briclemachines, and has special reference to mechanism for conducting brick-molds to and from a mold-sanding machine and into the brickniachinc proper, the entire operation being automatic.

It has been found by experience that where a water-strike is employed the molds are liable to adhere to each other when placed in series upon the feedtablo of a sanding-machine, so that they are not properly and Sue cessively delivered from said table to and upon the sanding-cylinder. One of the objects of the invention is to provide a positive mold-feeding device in con nection with the feed-table of a sandingmachine, which device shall operate to positively separate the lower mold from the next succeeding mold of a series upon the table at the proper and desired moment, in order to in sure its being conducted to the sanding-cylinder.

Another object of c invention is to pro vide automatic means for delivering a sanded mold from the sanding-cylindcr, and this in a manner tha shall avoid any material dislodgl mentof the sand adhering to the walls of the mold after-the same has been properly freed from surplus sand.

Another object of the invention is to automatically feed the sanded mold from the sanding-machine to the brick-machine, and this also without any undue concussion or jarring of the mold, which would also tend to dislodge the sand from the walls of the mold.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description,

H LA

and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation ofa mold'sanding machine provided with feeding and delivering devices constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation. Fi 3 is a plan, the feed'table being removed; and Fig. 4 is a detail in side elevation, showing the opposite end of the sanding-cylinder from that shown in Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures of the drawings.

A represents thesanding-cylinder, mounted in a frame, B, in which are also mounted suitable pulleys for conducting endless belts B, which serve the function of retaining the molds within the mold-receiving openings A of the cylinder during a portion of each of its revolutions.

It is to be understood that the cylinder is provided with a suitable quantity of sand therein, and that the molds are placed within the mold-receiving openings successively,and pass downward from the feed-table B successively into said openings, where they are retained by the belt until they arrive at the opposite side of the machine, when they are removed.

It is apparent that so far as thesanding-inachine itself is concerned the invention is applicable for use in connection with any type of machine of this class, and the same is not limited to an application thereto of any particular sandlug-machine.

In the standards and brackets of the feedtable 13 we provide bearings for a shaft, 0, which is parallel with the shaft 13", upon which are mounted the pulleys over which the endless belts B travel. Sprocketv'heels O are arranged upon these parallel shafts, and a chain,

f)", stems from one sprockctwvheel to the other. Upon the shaft 0 is mounted a moldand the cylinder being revolved by gearing B B which is operated by any suitable motor acting through the medium of a belt on the wheel B. A lever, B, and clutch B are provided for stopping and starting the sanding-- machine, all as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

It will be seen by the connections, hereinbefore described, between the mold separating device and the pulley upon which the endless belts run that the said separating device will be revolved in such a direction as to separate a mold coming in contact therewith from the table and from the next mold above in the series of molds upon the table. This separation is clearly shown in Fig. 1, the mold as being separated from the mold or by the separating device D. Furthermore, the operation of the separating device is positive, whereas heretofore the weight of the molds or the action of gravity alone has been relied upon as the means for conducting each of the molds upon the bed from the bed to the belt B; but, as before stated, the molds are liable to stick to the bed and to each other by the accumulation of clay upon both.

Instead of making the separating device in the form of a pulley simply, said pulley may be coated with rubber, leather, or any other material which will give the device afirm hold upon any mold coming in contact therewith; or,if desired,the separatingdevice maybe made in the form of spokes projecting from a hub mounted on the shaft C-in other words, a rim less wheel. WVhatever be the form of the separating device, it is given any desired surface speed, but preferably the same as that of the endless belts B.

E, Figs. 1 and 3, is a knocker which we employ for removing the surplus sand from the mold at the time just previous to its removal from the cylinder. The knocker is a weight mounted at the end 'of an arm, E, projecting upwardly from a lever, E pivoted to the framework in close proximity to one of the cylinderheads. The lever E is yieldingly held in its lowest position by means of a spring, E bearing thereon and kept in line with the lever, and adapted to be adjusted as to its pressure by means of screws E, one of which may be provided with a thumb-nut, E, for increasing or decreasing the tension of the spring, whereby the force of the stroke of the hammer may be predetermined at will.

Upon the cylinder-head are a series of cams or projections, E, one for each mold-receiving opening, which during the revolutions of the cylinder are successively brought beneath the lever E, so as to raise the same against the tension of the spring and to cause the hammer to swing away from the cylinder-head until the cam passes free from the lever, when the hammer is thrown by the spring toward the cylinder and against the end of the mold thereon, and thus produces a jar or concussion of sufficient force to dislodge the surplus sand from the mold.

Our device for automatically removing the molds from the machine comprises a hook, F, which projects over thecylinder and sufficiently near the same to come into contact with the advancing side or edge of a mold when in, an opening of the cylinder. The hook is supported'in a rockarm, -F, pivotally and adjustably, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, the rock-arm projecting from a shaft, F mounted in standards F suitably connected with the framework of the sanding-machine. Another rock-arm, F projects'from the shaft F and has adjnstably united therewith a connectingrod, F, by means of nuts F F, screw-threaded upon the rod and arranged one at each side of the rock-arm F through which the rod passes. The adjustable connections are for the purpose of giving a greater or less throw or movement to the hook F, and the means for giving said movement are clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.

To the standard F is pivoted an arm, F which has a lug, F, (see Fig. 3,) projecting therefrom and toward the cylinder-head. On the cylinder-head are a series of projections, F which during the rotation of the cylinder are brought into contact with thelug F and operateto lift the arm F, so that the connecting-rod F is caused to give motion to the rockshaft F, its arms, and the hook F. The projections or cams F are adjustably connected with the cylinder by means of screws or bolts F, passing through slots in the cams,as clearly shown in Fig. 4, so that a further means is provided for determining the length of the throw of the parts affected thereby during the operation of the machine.

A are stops for retaining the molds within the mold-openings against longitudinal movement in one direction.

The operation of the mechanism just described consists in raisinga mold from an opening, as clearly shown in full lines, Fig. 1, and turning it face upward over onto a yielding bridge, G, extending from near the cylinder to a delivery table, hereinafter described. This bridge G may be constructed of any forin and of any material desired, the necessary requisite being that it shall be yielding or cushioned or shall be so disposed as to receive the mold brought thereto by the hook F in such a manner as to produce the least possiblejarring of the mold, whereby dislodgment of the sand adhering to the walls thereof is obviated. In this instance our yielding bridge or table G comprises a series of rollers, G, mounted in flexible brackets G which extend downward and are clamped to the frame-work of the sanding-machine by a plate, G, bet-ween which and the frame the brackets are arranged.

By tightening the screws G the plate is caused to secure the brackets in any desired adjustment. In this instance, also, we provide each of the brackets with a block or step, G which bears against the standards in which llO is journaled the shaft upon which are mounted the wheels over which the endless belts B travel. By giving the brackets this comparatively great length we secure great flexibility in the bridge, so that when a moldfalls thereon it is perfectly cushioned against any undue shock or ar.

\Ve deem it important to state that there are numerous arrangements of springs, cushions, flexible belting, and other devices which may be substituted for the particular construction which we have herein illustrated as constituting our bridge, and we therefore do not limit our inventionto the exact construction shown and described, but reserve the right to substi tute any construction or devices which shall provide an easy reception of the mold and which is within the scope of mechanical skill to construct.

By reference to Fig. 1, a mold, w, is shown by dotted lines in the act of passing from the bridge to and upon the endless belts B, which, by the direction of movement which they have at this point in the machine, contribute to a positive conveyance of the mold from the bridge to the delivery-table. This particular relative arrangement and cooperation of the bridge and endless belts is advantageous, as it insures a delivery of the mold right side up and properly disposed lengthwise upon the delivery-table; still We do not limit our invention, as regards thereceiving-bridge, in a manner to necessitate the cooperation of the endless belts B therewith.

H represents the delivery-table, and it is extended for any convenient distance, and is supposed to terminate directly at the mold-receivmg opening of any brick-machine, as the table is provided with automatic means for conducting a sand-mold to and into a brickmachine.

The devices employed for that purpose are as follows: Upon the cylinder-head there are secured a series of segmental gears, I, one for each mold'receiving opening of the cylinder. By referring to Fig. 3, a shaft, I, will be seen, provided with apinion, I, constructed to mesh with the sector-gears I on the cylinder-head, so that said shaft is intermittently rotated during the rotations of the cylinder. Upon the shaft I (see Fig. 1) there is mounted a grooved pulley, I, having a hub, I. From this hub there extends a rope, J, over the pulley J in the table H above the pulley I and from thence to a weight, J said weight being sufficient to cause the return of a pusher, K, mounted on the table and for movement therealong. A series of rollers, H, is provided in the table to reduce the friction of the molds thereon.

Directly over the pulley I there is arranged in the table H a grooved pulley, L, and at the opposite end of the table a similar pulley, L, and from one to the other of these pulleys there extends a cord, chain, belt, or band, M, which, between the pulleys, passes around the grooved pulley 1 One end of the rope passes above the table and is connected with the pusher K, while the other end passes beneath the table and is also connected with said pusher, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The pusher K comprisesacrosshead adapted to slide back and forth upon the table II, and it is provided with a cushioning-spring, K, in terposed between the pusher and the mold at on the table, so that a concussion is avoided when the pusher comes into contact with the mold and the mold is forced by the pressure thereof into the brick-machine.

The functions of the pusher, weight, table, and their adjuncts are performed in the followingma'nner: As a sectorgear I comes into contact with the pinion 1 of the shaft 1 the pulley I is revolved in the direction indicated by the arrow thereon, and thus draws upon the belt M, passing over the pulley L, and back beneath the table to the pusher,so as to cause the pusher to travel toward the delivery end of the table and to carry in that direction any mold in front of the pusher. This action of thepulley winds the cord J on thehub I". Now the pinion escapes a segment I on the cylinder-head, leaving the shaft to rotate in an opposite direction by the weight J, which returns the pusher to its starting position.

By any suitable system of shafting and gearing the sanding-machine is timed in accordance with the necessity of the brick-machine with which it is employed, so that when a mold is placed upon the sanding-machine cylinder a mold is removed therefrom to the deliverytable and the mold delivered from the delivery-tablc and introduced into the brick-niachine at the proper time to take the place of preceding molds employed in the operations of the sand and brick machines.

By our invention we do away with the work ofseveral attendants and put upon machinery a class of work which is particularly hard to perform, and furthermore secure a uniformity in the sanding of brick-molds which is practically impossible either by hand-work alone or by a sanding-machine unprovided with our improvements.

Having described our invention andits operation, what we claim is- 1. In combination with the feed-table of a brick-mold-sanding machine, a rotary nioldseparator arranged to come into contact with the lowest mold on the table, and to positively separate it from the table and from the next mold above, and to positively move the mold toward the cylinder of the machine, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the cylinder of a brick-moldsanding machine and with the endless belts cmployed therewith, ofa rotary moldseparator having a motion, when separating molds,substantially agreeing in time with and in the same direction as the said endless belts, substantially as specified.

8. The combination, with the cylinder of a sanding-machine, of a series of cams or pro jections upon the head thereof, and of a IIC ' der, of a hook pivotally connected to an arm of a rock-shaft, and a connectingrod for 0s cillating the shaft when the hook comes into contact with amold on the cylinder, substantially as specified.

6. The combination, with the cylinder of a sanding-machine, of a hook arranged to come into contact with the molds after they have been sanded, and an arm for withdrawing the hook operated by and in combination with cams or projections secured upon the cylinder-head, substantially as specified.

7. The combination, with the cylinder of a sanding-machine, of a hook for removing the molds, a rock-shaft for withdrawing the hook, a connecting-rod for operating the rock-shaft, and a pivoted lever, and camsmounted on the cylinder for operating said lever, substantially as specified.

8. The combination, with the cylinder of a sanding-machine, of a yielding bridge for receiving a mold as it is removed from the cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination, with the sanding-cylinder and with a table for receiving the molds removed therefrom, of an interposed yielding bridge, substantially as specified.

10. The combination, with the sanding-cylinder and its endless belts, of a yielding bridge arranged between the cylinder and the belts, so as to receive a mold from the cylinderwithout undue concussion and to direct said mold to said belts for a positive advancement of the mold to the table, substantially as specified.

11. The combination, with asanding-cylinder, of a table for receiving the sanded molds, a pusher mounted forreciprocation upon the table, and provided with a spring or cushion arranged to be interposed between the mold and the pusher, substantially as specified.

12. The combination, with the sandingcylinde'r having a series of geared segments, of a delivery-table having a pusher and intermediate pusher-operating mechanism comprising a shaft having a pinion arranged in the path of said sectors, substantially as specified.

13. The combination of a sanding-cylinder having geared sectors, a shaft having a pinion arranged to mesh therewith, and having arigidly-connected pulley and hub, with a delivcry-table having a pusher connected with said pulley by a belt or its equivalent, and a Weight connected with said hub for returning the pusherwhen the pinion is out of mesh with the sectors, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW O. NEWTON. SYLVESTER NEWTON. ALBERT H. NEWTON. Vitnesses:

HENRY L. HAIGHT, EDWARD L. HAIGHT. 

